Horse-shield



(No Model.)

L. A.VD0WNS. /HORSE SHIELD.

' No. 534,429, Patented Feb. 19,v 18,95.

may'

as will enable others skilled in the art to whichvice in position.

NITED STATES PATENT Frio.

LEVIS A. IDOVVN S, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HORSE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`r534,429, dated February 19, 1895. Application led September I0, 1894. Serial No. 522.544. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.' y Y Be it known that I, LEWIS A. DOWNS, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and 'State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stallion Shields; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such it appertains to make and. use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of shields or protectors that are used on stallions to prevent masturbation, as will be hereinafter set forth. In the drawingsz-Figure l shows the 'de Fig. 2, is aview in perspective of the device,t he attaching straps being broken away; Fig. 3, a bottom plan; and Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal section on line 4, Fig. 3,- looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

from contact by a movable perforated plate,

B, loosely supported on a number of Yposts d.z

around which are coiled springs a3, which serve to retain the plate B in the normal position shown in Fig. 4, and conceal the sharp points of the series of pods. When a pressure is applied to the under side of plate B it yields in an upward direction and allows the prods to project through apertures a4 and come in contact with an object pressing against said plate. When the pressure is relaxed the movable plate is returned to its normal position. By this arrangement the prods are` not liable to have accidental contact with the limbs of an animal in laying down or getting up, as is the case in similar devices Where the prods are covered or protected. f

The back plate, A, may be provided on top with a covering b, of felt or other suitable material, so as to present a soft surface to the body when the device is in use.

The sides and ends of the device are inclosed by a curtain or skirt, b which pre vents hair and other foreign substances from getting in between the plates and interferlng with the free working of the movable` plate the sharp ends of the prods in contact with the member exerting the pressure and causing it to be quickly withdrawn.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a back-plate, a number of projecting prods, fixed therein, and a perforated spring-pressed plate, normally covering the ends of said prod's but yielding against a pressure and allowing the sharp ends of the prods to be thrust out therethrough, substantially as and for the purpose setv forth.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a back-plate, a number of prods xed in and projecting therefrom, a number of posts, a movable perforated plate, and a series of springs, mounted on said posts and adapted to' retain said perforated plate in its normal position, but yielding against a pressure on the under side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. j

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS A. DOVNS. l

Witnesses:

L M. FREEMAN, J. B. DoNALsoN. 

